Truss



July 91935.'l H M. TURNER 2,007,487

` TRUss `Filed may 21|, 1934 ATTORNEYS.

Patented july 9, l1935 PATENT OFFICE.

TRUSS Harrison M. Turner, Kansas City,` Mo.

Application May 21, 1934, Serial No. 726,694

`This invention relates to surgical appliances` and particularly a device known as a truss, which is customarily worn about the torso so that one or more of the pads'thereof might be disposed in 5 fsupporting relation to a ruptured area, and the primaryobject of the invention is the provision 'of sucha truss that is uniquely arranged with respect to the pads and has` self-adjusting features which lendto the comfortrof `the wearer.

One of the important aims of the invention is to provide a truss having two pads'thereon that are specially constructed` to co-operate with the rupture-supporting pad in such fashion that Athe beltV or supporting circumscribing member will not become bothersome to the patient, the said rupture-engaging pad being self-adjusting as natural movements of the patientftake place.

Another object of this invention is to provide a yspecially formed truss pad that includes an air pocket which is formed to vserve with the vresilient ArifiaterialV of the pad in presenting a cushion through which the pressureof the truss and its holding force isexerted to the body of the wearer.

A Astill further feature of this invention is to Aprovide a strong, durable andl simply constructed truss that will adjust Y'itself to the wearer so `that 'it will not restrict his movements or causediscomfort a's a result of its-presence.

' Other objects of this invention will appear durling the course of the following specification, re-

ferring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one exampleof an embodiment of the invention and wherein: Y

Figure l is a top plan viewof a truss made-t embody the invention. f

Fig.2 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view throughl'the main pad of. the truss, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1. i Fig. 3 is a faceview ofsaid pad with the cushion entirely removed therefrom to reveal parts.

therebehind. a

` Fig. Llis anenlarged, detailed, fragmentary, sectional View along line IV-IV of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, face view of the ends of the interlocking links forming a part of the circumscribing member, and,

Fig. 6 is a vertical, central section through a `truss pad embodying a modified form of this invention. v v

One of the contributing factors toward the rigidity of this truss is the manner of making the circurnscribing member Y Hl, which comprises a `bandlZ having alink I4 hingedly connected as at l5 to. oneend thereofand a link lhingedlyconneetedas at to they other end thereof. A headed pintle22 is carried by link I8 and a series of inclined slots 24 are-arranged to individually engage said pintle 22 when locking the circumscrbing member l0 in operative position.

fbifurc'ated end 50 of bar 44.

7 Claims. (C1. 128-108) As such locking takes place, two novelly formed pads bear against the bodyof the wearer vat the back. There is one of these pads supported by eachlinh i4 and I8 respectively and the point of support is adjacent the respective hinge I6 and 2U. To afford the maximum amoun'tof resiliency and provide the greatest degree of comfort to the wearer, these pads 25 are mounted uponone end of a resilientarrn through the medium of a pin. 3i) which loosely engages the plate 32 of the pad so that a wobbly fit is afforded. Thus not'only can the pads 23 move toward and from links VI4 and I3, buttheir faces may assume angles best suited for the surface being Vcontacted. The other end of arm 23 is secured toits respective link i4 or i 8 as the case may beA by a securing clip 34. This clip circumscribesthe link and end of `arm 28 so that lateral displacement, other than that afforded bythe resiliency of the arm 2S, is precluded.

Plates 32, have an inturned, vannular flange 36 at the edge thereof which is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed spurs. It is these spurs or flanges that grip the annular edge `0f a sponge rubber pad or similar facing 38 and there is provided an air pocket between plate 32 and the backof facing 38 in a manner hereinafter described with respect toy the adjustable pad 45 that is carried by band l2 in the proximity of the actual rupture.4 This particular pad 4i] is especially unique in that it extends at an angle downwardly and inwardlyfrom a twistedlength 42 formed on band i2. Thus an inward and upward pressure is afforded exactly where it is needed when the rupture is in the lower part of the abdomen. e K

A resilient, pad-supporting bar 44 has one end adjustably secured to band I2at twisted length 42 through the medium of a ysecuring screw46 that is in screwthreaded engagement with a boss 43 formed 4on oneside oftwisted length 42. This screw 46 passes through the bifurcated end 5U of bar 44 and is maintained` against accidental displacement by a lock washer 52 which vis interposed between the head of `screw 46fand the l Obviously, upon `loosening screw 45 bar 44 may be completely vwithdrawn for replacement, or, bar 44 and all axis of screw 46.

The lower oropposite end of bar 44 carries a plate 54 having hole 55 formed therethrough to receive a pin 58 having head Bil formed thereon. This pin'58 is supported by bar 44 at a point spaced inwardly from thelower end thereof and `when plate (54Visfin'the normal position, the upper edge of hole 56 bears against pin 58.

A struck-out portion 62 is integral with plate 54 and assists in creating a bearing which slidably engages bar 44. Since plate 54 and all parts yparts related thereto may be pivoted about Athe that can be possibly so constructed are made of aluminum, it is necessary to line the aforesaid bearing with a metal liner 64 which is turned in around bar 44 as shown in Fig. 4. Through this construction plate 54 is free to move longitudinally along bar 44 Within the limits defined by the distance between the ends of hole 55 which strike pin 58 to define its limit with respect to a path of travel.

Since it is desirable to yieldably maintain plate 54 in a given position, there is built into this unique pad a spring 66 made of a single piece of spring wire and having its ends crossed beneath pin 58. This spring 56 nests in plate 54 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and loops G8 are formed on each side so as to equalize the spring pressure that is exerted.

When the truss having a pad made as just set down is in place on the wearer, he may bend or stoop with freedom because the distance between band. I2 and plate 54 is decreased and increased as such bodily movement takes place. The resilient facing 10 is removably aflixed to plate 54 in precisely the same manner as facings 38 are positioned on the aforesaid plates 32. Inturned spurs 12 are formed at the annular periphery of plate 54 and grip the annular edge of resilient facing 10 as shown in Fig. 2, The diameter of the annular series of spurs l2 is somewhat less than the normal diameter of facing I0 and when the latter is contracted to be gripped by spurs 12 it is arched outwardly as illustrated to present an air pocket '|4, within which is housed the head of pin 58 and spring 05. Obviously, covering 10 is made of sponge rubber or some analogous substance that will conform to the body contour at the zone of engagement and the inherent resiliency of this material is supplemented by the concave form of its inner side which acts with plate 54 to form the pocket 14.

Pads 26 are made in the same manner and the advantagegained by such structural features will be found therein. It sometimes becomes necessary to cover the circumscribing member consisting of parts I2, I4 and I8, with leather or some suitable fabric and such may be done without altering the function of these parts.

A modified form of pad kis illustrated in Fig. 6. This pad comprises a plate |00 having the inturned, spurred, annular peripheral flange |02 Which engages the resilient member |04 which has a cavity |06 formed in the face thereof. Thus a ring-shaped engaging edge |08 is provided and to preclude any suction action, vent holes ||0 should be provided through the lower wall of resilient` member |04.

The manner of using this truss, the advantages of the novel features built therein, and the unique form of pads, have all been made clear throughout the foregoing specification, and while changes and modifications with respect to exact structural features might be made without departing fromV the spirit of the invention, it is understood that the following claims define the limits with respect to the embodiment of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A truss of the character described comprising a rigid circumscribing member; aV plurality of opposed resilient arms mounted on said member; and a pad on each arm respectively, said arms having attachment at one end, to the said circumscribing member, and extending inwardly from the latter with the respective pad mounted on the extended end whereby the circumscribing member is held in spaced relation to the body of the wearer, one of said pads being normally below the plane of the circumscribing member and slidable toward and from the same as the truss is on the body of the wearer.

2. A truss of the character described comprising a circumscribing member including a rigid, arched band and a rigid link hingedly connected to each end respectively of said band; a resilient arm having one end secured to each link respectively adjacent the hinge connection; a pad mounted on the free end of each arm respectively; and a pad supported by and in spaced relation to the said rigid arched band in substantially opposed relation to the aforesaid pads, said pad on the arch being yieldably supported for movementtoward and from the plane of said band as the truss is worn.

3. In a truss of the kind set forth, a circumscribing member; a depending bar having one end in engagement with said member; and a pad slidably mounted on said bar, said pad being yieldably held in a given position on the bar and adapted to move along the bar to and from said position as the truss is Worn.

4. In a truss of the kind set forth, a circumscribing member; a resilient bar depending from said member; a plate slidably mounted on said bar; a spring to yieldably maintain the plate at the projected end of the bar; and a pad on one side of the plate adapted to create pressure on the body of the wearer and to move with said plate to and from a position at the end of the bar as the truss is Worn.

5. In a truss of the kind set forth, a circumscribing member; a resilient bar depending from said member; a plate slidably mounted on said bar; a spring to yieldably maintain the plate at the projected end of the bar and to allow movement of the plate along the bar as the truss is worn; and a pad on one side of the plate, one end of said bar being pivotally, adjustably joined to the said member whereby to laterally secure the said pad in adjusted position.

6. A pad for trusses of the kind described comprising a supporting bar having a laterally projecting pin on one side thereof; a plate having an opening therethrough to receive the pin; a bearing formed on one side of the plate to slidably journal the bar; a spring on the other side of the plate to bear against the pin and yieldably maintain the plate at one end of a path of travel; and a resilient pad on the face of said plate.

7. A pad for trusses of the kind described comprising a supporting bar having a laterally projecting pin on one side thereof; a plate having an opening therethrough to receive the pin; a bearing formed on'one side of the plate to slidably journal the bar; a spring on the other side of the plate to bear against the pin and yieldably maintain the plate at one end of a path of travel; and a resilient pad on the face of said plate, said pad being arched outwardly to form a pocket between the face of the plate and back of said pad wherein is positioned the said pin and spring.

HARRISON M. TURNER. 

